SBI agent, pathologist discuss evidence and cause of death in Glover trial

Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 12:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 12:18 p.m.

A special agent with the State Bureau of Investigation testified Wednesday that some of the DNA evidence he collected near the body of 21-year-old Misty Carter does not appear to have been tested by a crime lab.

Special Agent J. McClelland explained the evidence he collected to a jury during the second day of the first-degree murder trial of Jermaine Deprie Glover. Glover is accused of killing Carter, who was his girlfriend. The two lived together in Hendersonville.

Carter's body was found nude, bludgeoned and partially burned near the Blue Ridge Parkway around 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 19, 2009.

Several matches, a few cigarette butts, an empty can of Natural Light beer and a condom wrapper were found in the general search area (a perimeter of more than 43 feet) around the body, McClelland said.

The cigarette butts found within 43 feet of the body were still sealed in bags the agent closed and initialed at the scene, he said. He testified that there were no indicators to show the samples were sent to a crime lab for DNA analysis, or that “these bags have ever been opened” after he sealed them.

The items were submitted as state's evidence, along with two castings of tire impressions McClelland made at the scene.

Carter's family sat front and center in the courtroom with a box of Kleenex as witnesses testified to how they found her body and how they thought she died.

Dr. Donald Jason, a forensic pathologist and professor at Wake Forest Medical School in Winston-Salem, testified that Carter died of brain injuries sustained from a fatal “chop wound” to the head. The death blow likely came from in front of the victim with a “wedge-shaped, sharpened blade,” 4 inches in length, similar to that of a small ax, he told the jury.

Her body did not show any signs of defensive wounds indicating she fought her attacker, he said. A toxicology test showed that no drugs were in Carter's system. Another test did not detect any forcible sex before her death, Jason said.

Carter “was alive for a period of time” after the blade entered her skull just above her left eyebrow, he testified. A presence of blood found in her lungs indicated she took a breath after the blow. But no significant amount of carbon monoxide was found in her lungs to indicate she was breathing when her body was set on fire, he said.

He told the jury that the chop wound was found to be the only injury Carter sustained before she died.

When asked if the murder could have occurred in an enclosed space, Jason said he suspected the assailant had to have room enough to swing the instrument he or she used.

A heavy silence fell on the courtroom as jurors reviewed photos of Carter's body. The silence was broken by the creak of the courtroom door as Carter's mother left with tissue in hand.

“Do blisters show any sign of an accelerant?” Assistant District Attorney Doug Mundy asked. Blisters were found on Carter's body.

Jason said a flammable liquid on the body will often produce blisters when the body is burned.

Carter's head was wrapped in a plastic material and a sheet stained with blood, which was set on fire, according to the pathologist. Medical examiners found burns to her head, upper chest and left upper extremity.

She was five to six weeks pregnant at the time of her death, Jason said.

McClelland testified that a pregnancy test, prenatal vitamins and a reminder of an appointment for an ultrasound were found in Carter's black Mitsubishi Eclipse.

He also said her vehicle was discovered around 2:40 a.m. on Oct. 20, 2009 at an Asheville Highway truck stop near exit 44. Mud was found on the car's sides, tires and undercarriage. McClelland said the front driver's side and passenger's side floorboards contained mud, leaves and pine straw.

A red-tipped match, similar to ones found near Carter's body, was spotted on the driver's seat. A “soaking stain,” which McClelland explained is a term given to a spot where there was enough liquid to soak in and spread out, was found on the front passenger's seat. Smaller stains were also found on the seat and door.

Before the jury was dismissed for the day, McClelland testified that the stains tested positive for the presence of blood and were sent off for more analysis.

Carter's clothes, including an inside-out blouse, underwear and boots, were found in the back seat of the car along with her wallet, driver's license, credit cards and bank cards.

McClelland said they were unable to find any latent prints inside the vehicle or on its exterior, but they did take tire impressions to compare to the casts of tire track casts made along the parkway.

<p>A special agent with the State Bureau of Investigation testified Wednesday that some of the DNA evidence he collected near the body of 21-year-old Misty Carter does not appear to have been tested by a crime lab.</p><p>Special Agent J. McClelland explained the evidence he collected to a jury during the second day of the first-degree murder trial of Jermaine Deprie Glover. Glover is accused of killing Carter, who was his girlfriend. The two lived together in Hendersonville. </p><p>Carter's body was found nude, bludgeoned and partially burned near the Blue Ridge Parkway around 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 19, 2009.</p><p>Several matches, a few cigarette butts, an empty can of Natural Light beer and a condom wrapper were found in the general search area (a perimeter of more than 43 feet) around the body, McClelland said.</p><p>The cigarette butts found within 43 feet of the body were still sealed in bags the agent closed and initialed at the scene, he said. He testified that there were no indicators to show the samples were sent to a crime lab for DNA analysis, or that “these bags have ever been opened” after he sealed them.</p><p>The items were submitted as state's evidence, along with two castings of tire impressions McClelland made at the scene.</p><p>Carter's family sat front and center in the courtroom with a box of Kleenex as witnesses testified to how they found her body and how they thought she died. </p><p>Dr. Donald Jason, a forensic pathologist and professor at Wake Forest Medical School in Winston-Salem, testified that Carter died of brain injuries sustained from a fatal “chop wound” to the head. The death blow likely came from in front of the victim with a “wedge-shaped, sharpened blade,” 4 inches in length, similar to that of a small ax, he told the jury.</p><p>Her body did not show any signs of defensive wounds indicating she fought her attacker, he said. A toxicology test showed that no drugs were in Carter's system. Another test did not detect any forcible sex before her death, Jason said.</p><p>Carter “was alive for a period of time” after the blade entered her skull just above her left eyebrow, he testified. A presence of blood found in her lungs indicated she took a breath after the blow. But no significant amount of carbon monoxide was found in her lungs to indicate she was breathing when her body was set on fire, he said.</p><p>He told the jury that the chop wound was found to be the only injury Carter sustained before she died. </p><p>When asked if the murder could have occurred in an enclosed space, Jason said he suspected the assailant had to have room enough to swing the instrument he or she used. </p><p>A heavy silence fell on the courtroom as jurors reviewed photos of Carter's body. The silence was broken by the creak of the courtroom door as Carter's mother left with tissue in hand. </p><p>“Do blisters show any sign of an accelerant?” Assistant District Attorney Doug Mundy asked. Blisters were found on Carter's body. </p><p>Jason said a flammable liquid on the body will often produce blisters when the body is burned.</p><p>Carter's head was wrapped in a plastic material and a sheet stained with blood, which was set on fire, according to the pathologist. Medical examiners found burns to her head, upper chest and left upper extremity. </p><p>She was five to six weeks pregnant at the time of her death, Jason said.</p><p>McClelland testified that a pregnancy test, prenatal vitamins and a reminder of an appointment for an ultrasound were found in Carter's black Mitsubishi Eclipse.</p><p>He also said her vehicle was discovered around 2:40 a.m. on Oct. 20, 2009 at an Asheville Highway truck stop near exit 44. Mud was found on the car's sides, tires and undercarriage. McClelland said the front driver's side and passenger's side floorboards contained mud, leaves and pine straw.</p><p>A red-tipped match, similar to ones found near Carter's body, was spotted on the driver's seat. A “soaking stain,” which McClelland explained is a term given to a spot where there was enough liquid to soak in and spread out, was found on the front passenger's seat. Smaller stains were also found on the seat and door. </p><p>Before the jury was dismissed for the day, McClelland testified that the stains tested positive for the presence of blood and were sent off for more analysis.</p><p>Carter's clothes, including an inside-out blouse, underwear and boots, were found in the back seat of the car along with her wallet, driver's license, credit cards and bank cards.</p><p>McClelland said they were unable to find any latent prints inside the vehicle or on its exterior, but they did take tire impressions to compare to the casts of tire track casts made along the parkway.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>